It's true we have Green (Green Hope Robotics, FRC 5190) in our name, but everyone knows - "Actions speak louder than words!" Our team is committed to changing the world to be the most eco-minded place in the universe. We have implemented an Eco-botic challenge to anyone affiliated with FIRST Robotics. Will you take the pledge? It will mean you are committed to thinking about eco-friendly ways to accomplish everything in your life. It will mean you want our world to be a cleaner, safer place. It will mean you understand our decisions today impact our world tomorrow. Visit the team's webpage and sign the pledge! Snag the logo for your page and demonstrate you are part of Eco-botics. The time is now to make the change!

We plan to continue to recycle, repurpose, and use renewables and eco-friendly products in all we do. We believe that doing the right thing is the FIRST thing everyone should do!

Another opportunity to volunteer for STEM Education? Bring it on! Our team loves to see all the great robotics talent out there in our community. We recently met Tom Settle of ViaRobotics at an FLL Event and he invited our team to volunteer at a VEX Robotics event. Our team was happy to help. Griffin College, Franco Savarivar, and Jordan Sayman volunteered to serve as referees for the all-day event. Wahab Khan acted as a field re-setter and Nick Maleki helped to check in the students from the 16 participating teams.

This was our first VEX event, but it won't be our last. We have already agreed to volunteer again for the next local RTP Regional Qualifier being held on February 14 at the Resurrection Lutheran School. We worked hard, but had a great time. The matches and robots were incredible to watch. We made many new friends and are excited to continue to build STEM outreach and friendships.

We are especially proud of our team and their great spirit of volunteerism.

We are very excited to announce that 5190 Roboboosters, Inc. has achieved 501(c)(3) status through our membership in ParentBooster.org. This new designation will enable us to fundraise in a more effective and efficient manner. This is good news for STEM Education in our community. Joining the ParentBooster USA Organization made perfect sense. The organization offers many resources for booster clubs like ours and provides the umbrella designation to us as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

We have always been a non-profit corporation in North Carolina, but did not have the Federal tax-exempt designation as a 501(c)(3) which is required to accept tax-deductible donations. Prior to achieving this new status, our donors were required to make gifts to NC First and then the gifts were re-granted to us. Now the gifts can come directly to us. This allows the generous gifts made by our donors to go to work right away in helping us promote STEM Education. We will even be eligible to recoup any North Carolina sales tax that we pay when purchasing our parts for our robots.

Very soon, we will have a Paypal account for donors to make donations directly to us. We can also now accept donations in kind for goods and services. Additionally, we can accept donations at our mailing address:5190 Roboboosters, Inc.307 Belrose DriveCary, NC 27513

Thanks for your support during our transition. We feel this news is like "hitting the big time"!